Toushiro spent hours looking for Karin, but he didn't find her. Not even a small clue to where she could have been. The only things he came across was the usual: ramshackled houses, drunk people, gangs, and spirited kids. He pretty much looked all over districts 60 through 80 and it made him tired. He didn't know how far he was from finding her.

His haggard form moved across the 10th Division grounds and into the building. By the sight of him, his squad members moved against the walls to avoid their restless taicho. As he continued walking towards his office, one unlucky person walked into him. Obviously he didn't see him since he was carrying a large stack of papers.

"Watch where you're going!" Toushiro glowered.

"Sorry, Hitsugaya-Taicho."

"Now, now. There's no need to apologize, Kokichiro. Taicho is just in a bad mood." someone piped up from behind them.

Both men looked down the hall to see Matsumoto with a bright smile on her face. "Just be careful when he's in bad mood. He's been grumpy about not being able to find Karin-chan, the one I've told you about." she told Kokichiro.

Kokichiro nodded his head as affirmation, but not after hearing Toushiro growl. At this, Kokichiro hurriedly picked up the paperwork he had dropped and ran down the hallway.

"Aw, look what you did, Taicho. You scared him away! And he has been our 7th seat for a long time." Matsumoto exclaimed.

Toushiro ignored her comment and walked away. He had felt nothing but regret; regret that he had never noticed Karin trapped at the ruins of the theaters, regret that he never killed the Espada that hurt her when he had the chance, regret that he never got to say "Thank you" for the necklace.

Subconsiously, he reached for the necklace that was well hidden around his neck. It's been awhile since he held it, but it wasn't like he could ever forget such a thing is around his neck. He was going to find her no matter what it takes; he was going to find her and make sure she is safe.

Matsumoto's smile grew bigger when she saw that her captain had held the necklace that Karin gave him. He's been through a lot and to know that a friend of his went through those dangers most likely troubled him. She had a strong feeling that he was going to do whatever it takes to look for her and that made her proud of him.

Everything was silent as the reached the office and it seemed that no one was walking down the hallway but them. As Toushiro and Matsumoto reached the office, he opened the office door and walked in. When he walked in, he noticed the speakers Matsumoto was hanging up was in place, waiting for someone to turn them on. Once he sat down at his desk, he looked up at Matsumoto, who was still standing by the doorway, to see her counting down with her hands with her already on two.

"Matsumoto, what are you-?"

We don't have time left to regret (Hold on)
It will take more than common sense (Hold on)

So stop your wondering take a stand (Hold on)
Cause there's more to life than just to live (Hold on)

Toushiro was startled for the second time of the day as the speakers came to life. He looked back over at Matsumoto, who was laughing at the look he had on his face when the speakers came on, and glowered at her.

"Matsumoto! What's going on?" Toushiro yelled.

Cause an empty room can be so loud
There's too many tears to drown them out
So hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on

Matsumoto laughed and walked over to his desk. "This was the surprise I was talking about earlier, Taicho. Isn't this great?" she said happily. Toushiro only glared at her.

One single smile a helping hand (Hold on)
It's not that hard to be a friend (Hold on)
So don't give up stand till the end (Hold on)
Cause there's more to life than just to live (Hold on)

"No, it is not!" Toushiro said exasperatedly. "Turn the music off and get those things off my walls!"

Matsumoto shook her head. "Nope, I don't think I will."

Cause an empty room can be so loud
There's too many tears to drown them out
So hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
When you love someone
And they break your heart
Don't give up on love
Have faith restart
Just hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on

He glared at her for not following his orders. Other than paperwork and drinking sake, this was the first time she disobeyed him. "And why not?"

When it falls apart
And your feeling lost
All your hope is gone
Don't forget to hold on
Hold on

"Because, Taicho, at times like these, you ignore your feelings, so I thought that my little gift would help you out." she reasoned.

His glare softened. He knew that when he's stressed over something, he tends to ignore his feelings, but how in the world would her gift help him. As if she was reading his mind, she said, "The speakers I got was from 12th Division. Kurotsuchi-Taicho was going to throw them out, so I got Nemu-chan to give it to me. She said that when a person walks into the room and the speakers are on, they would play music to what the person is feeling. Even if they are good at hiding their emotions," Matsumoto looked at Toushiro slyly, "the music the speakers are playing would reveal their true emotions."

Then, with an afterthought, Matsumoto added, "Of course, only the person and the one that hung them up are the only ones that would be able to hear the music playing. No one else." She gave Toushiro a teasing smile.

Cause an empty room can be so loud
There's too many tears to drown them out
So hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
When you love someone
And they break your heart
Don't give up on love
Have faith restart
Just hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on

Toushiro gave her an irritating look. He understood that they helped sort out his feelings in a way, but to know that Matsumoto would know what he is feeling is aggravating, especially since she already pries him with questions concerning things he never talks about. At least his whole division wouldn't be able to hear the music that was playing. For that, he was relieved.

All the more, he was glad that she hung them up, but that only made him irritated with himself.

Cause an empty room can be so loud
There's too many tears to drown them out
So hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
When you love someone
And they break your heart
Don't give up on love
Have faith restart
Just hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on

The song finally came to an end and Toushiro relaxed back into his chair. He was thinking thoughtfully about what the song was about. Didn't it say something about regret? Helping a friend? A broken heart? Didn't it say something about love? The word seemed so foreign to him like it was a different language he didn't understand.

"Love? A broken heart? I'm not in love.. with a broken heart." Toushiro scrunched his eyebrows together. How could he be in love? His heart doesn't seem like it broken into pieces because of pain, right? If the song is true, then he is heart-broken and was..or is in love?

Toushiro hit his head against his chair. "What's wrong with me?" he whispered to himself.

Matsumoto giggled at the sight of him. Rather than helping him, she felt as though the song just confused him. This only made her giggle more.

Toushiro sat up from his seat, remembering that his lieutenant was still in his office. He squinted his eyes as if to see if she got any more tricks up her sleeves, and then he gave her a bored look. "Get back to work, Matsumoto." Toushiro said in a monotone as he started back on his work.

Matsumoto gave him a huge smile. Working with him for a long time had her learn that that was a thank you coming from him. "You're welcome, Taicho!" she said merrily, and she walked out of the office happily.


"That was fun wasn't it, Nami?"

Karin and Nami was back in their room laying down on their respective beds after a good game of soccer. After Karin told her she wanted to play soccer, Nami had to follow Karin into an item shop, where they sold real world items, and they bought a soccer ball with Nami's money. Then Nami had to lead Karin to an empty field where Karin and Nami played.

Karin looked over at Nami with big smile. She returned the smile with a tired look as she sprawled on her bed exhausted.

"Uh huh."

They had spent three hours playing soccer. The first hour was spent with Karin teaching Nami how to play. Thankfully, Nami was a fast learner at things, but once they started a game, she was easily beaten by Karin.

Karin sat up from her spot and gave her a small smirk. "Come on! It wasn't that bad."

Nami looked over at Karin and rolled her eyes. "For you it wasn't. I've got beaten by you 6 times!" Nami exclaimed. "And wipe that smirk off your face. You're boosting your ego." This only made Karin's smirk grow bigger.

"Don't worry, Nami. You'll get better. And soon, you will be able to beat me."

Nami let out a sigh and rested her head on a pillow. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever."

Karin smiled and relaxed back into her bed. Sure it felt fun beating Nami at soccer and she knew that she would get better at it in time, but she needed someone that would be challenging, someone that would be able to keep up with her. She sighed.

There wasn't anyone she knew in 1st District, or any district, that knew how to play soccer. The only choice she had now was to train Nami at getting better on her soccer skills so each game would at least last a bit longer. The one person that was able to keep up with her, as far as her knowledge, was Toushiro.

Karin sighed at the mere thought of not being able to see him again. It has been a long time since she saw him last time, and she wondered if she was ever going to see him again.

"Karin,"

She looked over at Nami, who was sitting up from her bed, staring at her with a small smile on her face. "what are you thinking about?"

Karin rolled her eyes. This was the 7th time Nami asked her that question whenever she spaced out. And for some reason, it catches her off guard.

Karin gave her a glare, but she ended up sighing. "Fine. I'll tell you, but we're keeping this between you and me. None of your other friends I don't know of. Just you and me."

Nami gave her an eager smile. "Yes!" She clapped her hands together excitedly. "I won't tell a soul."

Karin rolled her eyes at this. "There are nothing but souls here in Soul Society."

"Well, his name is Toushiro..."

Viola! So what'cha think? You'll be hearing more music later on, and I hope you don't mind about that. As for writing on a daily basis, I won't be able to do so. I have to finish this boring mythology book. If you've read Edith Hamilton and/or had to do some sort of study questions, it'd help me out a lot. My school starts next Monday and my teacher would be giving us a test on the first day. Harsh.. I know. But I'll be able to update every other day.

The song I used was Hold On by The Jonas Brothers.